In Part 1, we explored grassroots innovation: those clever, resourceful, and sometimes brilliant solutions that bubble up from the people closest to the problem.

We made the case that innovation isn’t something that only lives at the top, it happens on shop floors, in community centers, in call centers, and break rooms. Often, all it takes is someone asking, “What if we tried this instead?”

But here’s the real magic:
This kind of innovation doesn’t require a formal strategy. It needs a spark. And space to breathe.

In this part, we’ll explore how to create the conditions where everyday innovation can emerge, grow, and thrive… fuelled by that most underrated superpower: curiosity.

1. Give permission to explore, not just perform

Too often, work is all about execution. Get it done. Hit the target. Stay in your lane.

But if all we reward is performance, we squeeze out exploration. And without exploration, nothing new happens.

Creating space for curiosity doesn’t have to be radical. It can be as simple as:

• A weekly “curiosity hour” where people pursue ideas or questions;
• Asking what’s interesting, not just what’s urgent;
• Hosting open-ended brainstorms that don’t require a pitch deck.

Let people drift a little. Give them room to ask “what if?”
Trust that not everything needs to have a measurable outcome yet. Curiosity often starts as a question with no clear destination — and that’s the point.

2. Make it safe to NOT know

We’ve all been there. The moment in a meeting when you want to say something, but hold back because it might sound silly.

That’s where curiosity dies.

If you want a culture of innovation, you need a culture where not knowing is not only accepted, but encouraged. Where people can say:

“I’m not sure, but I’m curious…”
“I noticed something weird, and I think it might matter…”
“Can I try something different?”

Encourage experimentation. Celebrate thoughtful failure. Show people that trying is just as valuable as “being right.”

Curiosity thrives where people feel safe to wonder out loud.

3. Strengthen the core, then loosen the edges

Here’s a common myth: freedom means chaos.

In reality, the most vibrant innovation cultures have a strong, shared foundation. A clear purpose. Simple guiding principles. A sense of direction.

When people know what matters - why you exist, who you serve, what success looks like - they don’t need step-by-step instructions. They can improvise. They can explore confidently, knowing what they’re aiming for.

So make sure your people know:

• What the organisation stands for;
• What kind of impact you want to make;
• What problems are worth solving.

When the core is strong, the edges can flex. (A really good read related to this is The Connected Company by )

4. Spot and celebrate everyday ingenuity

Not all innovation looks like a breakthrough. Some of it looks like a sticky note. A workaround. A spreadsheet formula that saves five hours a week.

But if no one notices, people stop sharing. So shine a light on the small stuff:

• Create a space to share clever hacks or improvements;
• Feature “everyday innovators” in team meetings;
• Give recognition not just for big ideas, but for useful ones.

When you celebrate curiosity in action, you invite more of it. People start to believe, “Maybe I have something worth sharing too.”

5. Ask better questions and really listen

Innovation starts with the questions we ask and who we ask them to.

Too often, we go to the same rooms, the same voices, the same types of ideas. But what if we asked the frontline team? The receptionist? The customer?

Try questions like:

“What’s one thing that bugs you every day?”
“What do you wish you could fix without needing approval?”
“What’s a workaround you’re proud of?”

Then, pause. Listen. Don’t leap to judgement or solution mode. Just listen with curiosity.

When people feel heard, they’ll keep talking. That’s where the gold is.

6. Make curiosity contagious

Culture is infectious. If leaders show curiosity (ask more questions, admit what they don’t know, explore ideas out loud) others follow. So stop telling others what to do and start doing it yourself first. Lead by example.

So model it:

• Ask “why?” more often
• Share what you’re wondering about
• Invite the weird and the unfinished

Encourage curiosity not as a luxury, but as a habit. A daily rhythm. Something baked into how your team thinks, decides, and acts.

Curiosity is the oxygen of innovation. Keep it flowing.

7. Kickstart it with a challenge

Sometimes, all grassroots innovation needs is a spark. A signal that says: “Hey, we’re ready to listen.”

One of the simplest and most effective ways to jumpstart that energy is to frame a real, immediate challenge and invite people across the organisation (or community) to help solve it.

Not a hypothetical blue-sky brainstorm.
Not a shiny “innovation competition” with a logo and lanyards.
Just a straight-up, practical prompt like:

• Employer engagement: “What’s one way we could make our onboarding faster?”
• Daycare locations: “Is there something we could do that would help parents feel even more informed, involved, or at ease?”
• Retail: “How might we reduce waste on the shop floor?”
• “What’s a simple fix to make customers happier in the first 5 minutes?”

Make it specific. Make it relevant. And make it safe to answer honestly. Even if the ideas are half-baked or unconventional.

You might be amazed at what surfaces:
That work-around someone’s been quietly doing for months.
The insight from a part-timer that no one thought to ask.
The customer tweak that turns into a breakthrough.

You’re not trying to manufacture genius. You’re just opening a door and saying, “Come in. We’re curious.”

This isn’t a program. It’s a pulse.

You don’t need to launch a shiny new initiative to unlock grassroots innovation.
You need to trust your people, create space to explore, and give them something solid to stand on.

Curiosity doesn’t ask for a grand plan.
It just needs a green light. A little time. A signal that it’s welcome here.

Because the next great idea probably won’t come from a whiteboard in a boardroom.
It might come from the back office. The delivery van. The factory floor.
Or from someone who doesn’t even realise they’re innovating. Just fixing what needs to be fixed.